Rodriguez will enter the ring as the underdog against Ward, a 2004 Olympic gold medalist who is ranked among the top five best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. But Ward, 29, will be coming off a 14-month layoff due to a shoulder injury while Rodriguez is free of any ring rust having already fought twice this year.

"I'm just looking to fight the best Andre Ward," Rodriguez said. "I'm not worried about his shoulder injury or long layoff. That's his problem. My problem is to be the best I can be on November 16."

A resident of Worcester, Mass., Rodriguez, 28, moved his training camp to Houston in 2010 to be mentored by veteran guru Ronnie Shields.

Rodriguez (24-0, 16 KOs) earned the title shot by beating some of the most dangerous contenders over the last two years. He won a four-man tournament in Monte Carlo earlier this year and three of his last five opponents were undefeated.

But as impressive as Rodriguez' record is, it pales in comparison to the roster of elite fighters Ward (26-0, 14 KOs) has defeated that includes the likes of Carl Froch, Chad Dawson, Mikkel Kessler and Arthur Abraham.

"I'm undefeated just like he's undefeated," Rodriguez said. "He's got to figure me out as much as I've got to figure him out. I'm an aggressive fighter but I've got some defense as well. We're going to make this boy work."

Against Ward, Rodriguez faces defense-oriented boxer whose forte is to frustrate his opponents by killing their momentum and forcing them to fight on his terms.

"That's his strength, he gets so close that he smothers his opponents," Rodriguez said. "He's trained to fight dirty and smother you. He creates head butts and everything else. He makes it a wrestling match. But we've been working on it. Ronnie came up with a game plan. We've got to put it together and deliver in the ring."

Shields was predictably guarded and tight-lipped about any specifics of the game plan other than to hint that Rodriguez intends to beat Ward at his own game. Shields also said that Ward is not as impenetrable as reputation suggests.

"A fighter's a fighter," Shields said. "You can look at him as an A fighter, a B fighter, a C fighter, but in who's eyes? In my eyes all fighters are the same."

As for the list of superstars that Ward has beaten, Shields said, "Edwin would have won against all of them. Easily."

Bektemirov will fight William Johnson (10-32, 3 KOs) for the vacant Texas light heavyweight title at the latest Savarese Boxing Promotions card at the Bayou City Events Center, 9401 Knight Road on Thursday, Nov. 14.

A transplant from Dagestan, Russia, Bektemirov has gained a growing following in Houston courtesy of the explosive punching power he packs in both fists. He has been sparring partner to Rodriguez since 2011.

Also fighting on the Savarese card are 18-year-old lightweight Omar Tello (3-0, 3 KOs), a senior at Milby High, and junior welterweight Ivan Otero (11-2, 2 KOs), a transplant to Houston from Puerto Rico and trainer at the Main Boxing Gym.